Location Service Framework for Mobile App Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developing location-aware software applications is challenging due to the complexity of integrating location information gathering, analysis, and display tasks, which often require expertise and separate components like map rendering software.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that abstracts location information into logical entities, uses an event-driven programming model, and shares location and map data stores, allowing non-experts to build location-aware applications by abstracting location information into areas of interest and utilizing third-party rendering engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If location information is used as raw data (latitude and longitude), then the application can access positioning system data, but the application development becomes very difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (location service framework) between the positioning system and the application. This framework provides abstracted location concepts (areas of interest, location events) that simplify application development while maintaining access to raw positioning data through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex location processing logic from the application layer and places it in a separate framework layer. This extraction removes the burden of handling raw coordinate data, map rendering, and location event management from application developers, allowing them to focus on business logic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each location application uses its own data store and map rendering software, then applications are independent, but the complexity of building and maintaining these components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal location service components (shared data store, map rendering engine, location event system) that can be used by multiple applications. These universal components reduce individual application complexity while maintaining adaptability through configurable parameters and event-driven architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the location service system into independent modular components: data store layer, rendering layer, event processing layer, and application layer. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and maintained independently while providing clear interfaces for integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A development environment makes it easier to develop and use location aware software applications. Combining the currently separate and complex tasks of location information gathering, analysis, and display and making them integrated such that non-experts can build location services into their applications increases a developer's capability to write rich location-aware software applications. A higher level programming model allows a programmer to use location information as a logical entity rather than just raw location data, such as latitude and longitude. A location data store and map data store may be accessed by different location aware applications on the device. Instead of each location application relying on its own data store, applications may share their location related information.